[alleybolton444]

Audi A4 Brake failure!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by stantheman

Its just happened to me!-twice! Having read a few people problems re the servo brake failure..has it been establishe wethere it a gromit , or a servo pipr problems??
Thanks Stan

This is my first post on here, so please bear with me!!!!!!! I own an Audi A4 Avant 2002

I was driving down the duel carriage way a few days ago, with 2 small children in the back, to find that on approaching an island my brakes completely failed!!! I was absolutely beside myself, and narrowly missed a major accident!!!! pressing the pedal down and finding it hard, like many others on here, then about a minute later the brakes seemed fine, so I thought it was just my driving!!! I carried on and again this happened, so I had to get out of the vehicle and phone my husband as I was NOT driving this car!!!!!

My husband drove the car back and again it was fine!!!!!

I took the car to my local garage, to have the brakes checked and they said everything seemed fine, so brought the car home, on going to work the next day my husband drove the car and the brakes completely failed again, but this time ABS light came on and brakes completely locked on, he came straight home and parked up the car, having read the posts on here, a friend of ours checked the plenum chamber to find it was filled with ice, and the pipes were also frozen in the chamber, therefore the hole (??gromit, bung) which should be allowing the water to drain, is not doing so, consequently, causing the failure of the brakes!!

I will be going to Audi tomorrow as I believe this to be a common fault, which is putting all of our lives at risk, and will be taking copies, of all these items posted on the forum, as I believe Audi, should have recalled all cars, as this is a design fault If anyone can help with any printed documentation to support the recall, please email me @ alexandrawestwood@*******.co.uk If audi do not offer any help, I will be taking it further, I.e Newspapers, as I believe we have a case how many others are driving these cars without knowing the danger that lies ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!

[remfanuk]

Originally Posted by alleybolton444

This is my first post on here, so please bear with me!!!!!!! I own an Audi A4 Avant 2002

I was driving down the duel carriage way a few days ago, with 2 small children in the back, to find that on approaching an island my brakes completely failed!!! I was absolutely beside myself, and narrowly missed a major accident!!!! pressing the pedal down and finding it hard, like many others on here, then about a minute later the brakes seemed fine, so I thought it was just my driving!!! I carried on and again this happened, so I had to get out of the vehicle and phone my husband as I was NOT driving this car!!!!!

My husband drove the car back and again it was fine!!!!!

I took the car to my local garage, to have the brakes checked and they said everything seemed fine, so brought the car home, on going to work the next day my husband drove the car and the brakes completely failed again, but this time ABS light came on and brakes completely locked on, he came straight home and parked up the car, having read the posts on here, a friend of ours checked the plenum chamber to find it was filled with ice, and the pipes were also frozen in the chamber, therefore the hole (??gromit, bung) which should be allowing the water to drain, is not doing so, consequently, causing the failure of the brakes!!

I will be going to Audi tomorrow as I believe this to be a common fault, which is putting all of our lives at risk, and will be taking copies, of all these items posted on the forum, as I believe Audi, should have recalled all cars, as this is a design fault If anyone can help with any printed documentation to support the recall, please email me @ alexandrawestwood@*******.co.uk If audi do not offer any help, I will be taking it further, I.e Newspapers, as I believe we have a case how many others are driving these cars without knowing the danger that lies ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!

this would seem to tally with both my brake incidents that have only happened in cold weather. my wife has an avant of similar vintage and has not had the problem...my car is a saloon. any comments from audi would be welcomed.

[alleybolton444]

I have contacted Audi Head office this morning, and they are giving me a call back!!!!!! But not to worry ill be on the phone again if they dont!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyones case on here is very very similar!!!! Look in the plenum chamber under the battery for blocks of ice which should be drained water!!!!!!!!!! and frozen pipes this is the problem!!!!!!

[ScaryAudi]

Exactly the same problem

The same thing happened to me last week after the cold weather i.e. intermittent brake failure - rock hard pedal and a " near death experience" but the brakes would then work fine until the next time!!

Abbeybolton444 any news from Audi on this? I was about to have a mobile mechanic pay a visit but this wouldn't appear to be anything that could be fixed. Where do you go from here?

[alleybolton444]

Hi everyone

Audi contacted me on the day they had said, and told me I would have to send my car into the dealership, so that they could tell me whether it was a recall poblem or not!!!!! (I didnt purchase car from dealership and have no warranty!!!!)

Had my car taken in on Tuesday, and gentleman, gave me a call to say they had cleaned all the plenum chamber out and that the water should be draining, now as it should have, they also said that I needed a new master cylinder and servo because the water may potentially have got in there and the problem with my brakes may arise again, this at a cost of £590!!!!!!!!

What I dont understand is they did all the cleaning work for free, didnt admit to any recall problem, and allowed me to leave with my car, even though I had refused the work on the cylinder and servo to be done, surely if there was a danger that they know to, by me not having the work done, why allow the car off the forecourt with children in the back????? On the otherhand, if it isnt a design fault by Audi, why spend all that time cleaning and checking my car and then not charging me a penny??????

I think they are aware of this problem, and are just trying to keep customers sweet by doing some work, free and then charging for the rest even though, I wouldnt have needed the work quoted doing, if the chamber hadnt been blocked in the first place!!!!!

I have had my car back and over the past few days all seems well!!! but I am still driving with caution just in case!!!!!!!!

I would advise everyone report to Audi Head office which I did, and at least all complaints are logged, surely they must take note if there are numerous calls regarding this problem, as it is a serious design fault on their part!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ed_75]

same problem here

I've had the same 'frozen' / life threatening brake failure issue. I've forked out £60 at an Audi Centre for a diagnostic test to be told that the servo and master cyclinder are full of water. I am due to pick up tommorrow but they seem more than happy for me to take away for it to happen presumably to happen again and me to solve the issue. Hopefully strength in numbers will get Audi to acknowledge problem - please all phone Audi head office 0800 6998888. The newspapers are always good to go to - am sure they will appreciate such stories and what amounts to arrogance / head in the sand with regard to safety approach from Audi - certainly not good PR for them.

[alleybolton444]

My husband took car out this morning, and brakes have failed again!!!!!!!!!!
Thus meaning I am going to have to fork out £600 for a new cylinder and servo!!!!!!!!!! obviously I have water in there too!!! I am so annoyed that Audi arent doing anything about this, and at the fact I have only had the car 7 months!!!!!!!!!!
what worries me also, is that I may pay this money out ( that I havent got!!!!) and the problem will arise again if the plenum chamber gets blocked again and water goes into the servo and cylinder, will I be having the same problem when it gets cold again next year!!!!!!!!!

[alleybolton444]

tried newspapers this morning.........not interested!!! said cant get involved as they could be sued by Audi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[remfanuk]

this is incredible. audi's arrogance is unbelieveable. i tried to investigate my car the other day. i took the battery cover off but it was difficult to actually see anything. can anyone tell me what the plenum actually looks like so i can have another go? this problem seems hit and miss. i will log a complaint with audi, however, i wonder what else we can do. the RAC could be considered a lobby group, do you think they will involve themselves? if anyone has got a cure for this, other than to buy a BMW!, please let us all know.

[ahaider]

Dear ishcraig,

Where are you based in the midlands, i have a braking problem with my audi a4 I wondered if you cld have a look

[ahaider]

Dear Alley,

I had a similar problem with my car plz let me know how you have got on so that I can take similar steps

[remfanuk]

i have sent a complaints email off to audi and have had a response saying my complaint is being dealt with by a case manager. i have also asked audi to read this thread. my suggestion, if we do not get satisfactory responses, is to collate all the people who are affected and take some action as a group.

[adastra]

Audi brake freeze - me too

Same error as everyone else. Freezing weather brakes lock up until they unfreeze. I'm happy to contact audi to complain remfanuk, why should we wait till there's a serious accident?
Can you tell me the email address you used?
thanks

[sunnyse]

I've got a slightly different issue that manifests itself in cold weather. If left out overnight on a cold night, in the morning the brakes are on (not just the lights, as I can move the gear selector lever from P->D without touching the brake pedal).

Is this anything people have heard of before, related to this servo problem? I haven't noticed any problems with the brakes - will try a couple of hard stops next time I can to confirm.

I've also checked the drains and all three seem to be clear.

Thanks all
SunnySE

[remfanuk]

Adastra

This is the initial email address i used to contact audi. [email protected]

i have since started a correspondance with one of their customer services advisors, who i have asked whether all of us experiencing only the same fault...i.e. loss of brakes in subzero weather can contact her directly. i feel this info collated wholesale is more likely to produce an acceptable response.
i am currently trying to get audi to investigate the issue without cost to me and they have mentioned producing a DISS report subsequent to their findings...whatever that acronym stands for.
if there is an inadequate response from audi i suggest contacting the trade organisation and perhaps watchdog...if others feel the same as i suggested earlier in this thread then my feelings are that we need a coordinated effort instead of individual dealings with audi, as i dont feel audi are taking it serious enough. anyway...just my thoughts.
cheers

[alleybolton444]

Hi everyone

I am still fighting this case with audi head office (with no satisfactory response!!!)
Audi will not own up to the fact that this is a design fault and that they are putting lives at risk, I have spoken to a customer service manager................ claire sammons (or so I believe as she wouldnt give her name!!!) and the attitude was unbelievable, quoting her she said "Audi was not responsible for every car on the road"!!!! surely yes audi is responsible for audi!!!!!!! to be honest not sure what else to do!! I have been fighting this for weeks, and they keep passing the book!!! and definately will not pay out for the work to be done!!!!!!!!
I have contacted trading standards and they have told me I need to take it up with the finance company as they are the legal owners of the vehicle!!!! I will be sending my letter off asap but I still firmly believe Audi neeed to address this immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[remfanuk]

Alley...I too am battling with Audi head on. I have told them that in my opinion they are responsible if the problem is a design fault and that they will recieve bad publicity should someone be killed by this. I have asked that a senior manager write to me and explain why they are putting cost ahead of investigating a potentially fatal problem that may require a recall.
I do not expect a decent response to them so my plan is to contact Watchdog, the SMMT, CEO of Audi and even my MP. What else can be done? My suggestion is that all of us that have this problem contact Audi...1 or 2 of us is not going to make an impression.

[phil2009]

Me too!

I've had this problem several times now and I was amazed at how accurately everyone has described the fault.

My car, A4 2002 1.9 TDI 130 just had a new master cylinder fitted by a reliable garage owned by a friend who took ages to even experience the fault. The new master cylinder has not cured the fault, but the pattern with the cold conditions is starting to show. I was reluctant to take it back to the garage due to the unpredictability of the fault but I'm going back this week with some copies of this forum. Even so, I've totally lost confidance in a car I loved and trusted for 4 years.

This is clearly a common design fault so the responsibility must lie with Audi despite the age of the car. For those of you already in contact with Audi, who did you contact? who is interested in it and what are they doing?

Thanks

[remfanuk]

Phil....I have sent an email to Audi customer services and am waiting for someone to actually do something. i have asked for signed confirmation that audi are not willing to do anything unless we all pay for them to investigate it! so far no response. i have emailed them again today and if no reply is given i will spread the word further afield as detailed in my previous reply.

i have asked on this thread a number of times if we could collate people affected by this and tackle audi on mass but unfortunately apathy seems to be the way people on here are dealing with it. i dont see the point in people whinging about the problem but arent willing to tackle this together. shame really.

i hope you have some luck with them.

[Mushroom]

Another owner with same problem

My Audi A4 Avant 2001 has had exactly the same problem over the last 3 months. Not properly diagnosed before but now its clear its the same problem as all of the owners on this thread. Both of my 'brake failures' occurred during v cold conditions and now the servo assist seems to have stopped working completely. Am getting it checked out tomorrow morning and will take this thread to the garage. Agree that best way forward is to group together and take issue to audi/watchdog/SMMT/MP...but the more names the better.

[peterL]

A4 brake fault in freezing weather

I have had much the same problem with my 02 A4 TDi, brakes sticking on in very cold weather. The first time I had the brake fluid changed. After the second time an Audi specialist said they had drained a cup full of water from the servo and replaced a pipe. The problem returned with the next cold morning. It seems to me to be a poor design that water can pool and be sucked up by the servo. (This is my fourth Audi, the first A80 was still going strong after 260,000 miles, the second only had two minor problems and both caused by servicing. The third was not so good and this one has seen the most problems. Perhaps there is a pattern here?)
I have Emailed Audi but not heard back from them yet.

[Jules]

Brake failure in cold weather

Last week the brakes on my 01 Audi A4 TDi failed in very cold weather as I was approaching a roundabout. I was trying to slow from 30mph, I put my foot on the brake, it depressed about one centimetre, then locked as if a wedge was beneath the pedal. I couldn't slow the car to a halt in time using the gears and narrowly avoided a collision with two cars on the roundabout. Absolutely terrifying. I finally coasted the car to a stop.

The RAC guy thinks that the servo assist has failed and the car is now with a local garage waiting to be checked over. I found this thread by 'googling' servo assist as I wanted to know more about the problem. I can't believe that so many people have experienced the same, potentially catastrophic, problem. We must be the tip of the iceberg.

Audi must have numourous accounts of the same problem, and if they don't then they need to. We need them to take action. I agree with the other people who suggest we take a collective approach to put our experiences to Audi/Watchdog/SMMT and any other organisation you think would put pressure on Audi to take this seriously. Any ideas?

Please get any one else who has experienced the same to add their voice to this thread as a starting point and we can join forces.

[peterL]

Audi A4 brake failure problem

It could be worth people with these brake problems emailing Audi as a first step, I have received this reply from them:-

Re: Audi A4

Thank you for your email of 13 February regarding your Audi A4.

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties that you have experienced with your vehicle. So that Audi can investigate this matter I would ask that you make an appointment with you local Audi Centre. They will then inspect the vehicle and provide you with a diagnosis.

I hope this information is helpful and if I can be of any further assistance please contact me on the details below.

Kind regards

Audi UK Executive Office

Telephone: 0800 699 888 Ext 63173

Fax: 0113 393 2585

e mail: [email protected]

[BIFFBIFFBIFFIDA]

Audi A4 Brake problem

Just happened to me in the french Alps. We were recovered home but the car is still there and the garages are all claiming that it could not possibly happen.

I am going to email Audi too!:

[lisa888]

Hi, not sure if you can help.
I have an audi a3 1998.
It was driving perfectly fine then i went to press the break and the pedal went straight to the floor. No breaks on the car at all. There is no break fluid missing or leaking and the breaks were not deteriating before it happened. I have asked many garages but they dont know what has cause this. I recently got a recall letter from audi to get my servo pipe replaced which i did, could this have anything to do with it???

Thanks

[Hometune]

Its not clear from your post if the fault happened just the once and now its okay or its still broken?
If it is still the same in that when you press the pedal there is absolutely nothing, its either air in the system or the brake master cylinder has failed internally. You can check for air by rapidly pressing the brake pedal and if it starts to show signs of improvement its a good sign air is present.
If it happened just the one time, I'd be very, very careful. Every chance it will happen again.
If it was my car, I'd bleed the brakes all round and see if any air came out. If none, then I'd change the master cylinder anyway just to be on the safe side. The car is 10+ years old now and they do wear out.

As to whether fitting the servo pipe caused it, it may be that when the pipe was removed from the unit, the pressure (vacuum) was released and caused the seals inside the master cylinder to turn over. Rapid pumping of the pedal often returns the seals to the right position.

[lisa888]

Hi,
The fault has never happend before, this is the first time. It is still broken, i have brought a master cylinder which someone has said is the problem. I am getting the brakes blead and that fitted which i am hoping will fix the problem.

Thanks

[way318]

This happened to me this morning. Mine is a 1.9TDI on a 51 plate with 140K on the clock. Its is as though there is something stopping the brake pedal from moving. Was very scary when it happened. Does anyone know what Audi have said about this issue?

[Leebobparkinson]

ECU Problem

Originally Posted by ishcraig

Im a tech at audi, give me faults and symptoms i might be able to help.
Notice to all; never buy an Audi platform vehicle with a Multitronic gearbox they have far to many faults to list!

Hi Craig,

Not sure if you can help, but here goes.

ECU light came on last year, problem came up as accelerator fault, the pedle unit was changed and all was fine.
6 months later, same problem, the mechanic found a small water leak dripping down to the peddle, it dried out and was OK
Just happened again this week, showing peddle fault again.
This happens when we get a fine heavy mist of rain, the problems have all occured when it s been raining, then when things dry up it will clear itself.
Any idea's will be welcome


Lee.

[mmnewton]

Hi

Just wanted to add my post to the topic, just had to have new servo unit and servo pump replaced costing £800 on my audi due to water being drawn intot he servo unit and pump, the garage told me there was 7 inches of water slushing around that caused the damage. All because the drain hole was blocked.. there is no way I could have known. I have had the car from new and well looked after. This incident was very scarey I was minutes away from the M1 when I realised I had lost brakes, due to the hard peddle issue... if anyone has had any feedback or success with audi (I have just put in a compliant via customer services) I would be grateful for the feedback..